I don't like Smith much either, but they had different owners when they did that Maned.
They're still located in Massachusetts, and they still jump through every hoop the MA leftist state government asks them to. They do that in return for being one of the only brands on the "approved firearms" roster, ensuring no competition in the state. And, of course, the lucrative police contracts.
Other manufacturers won't play MA's extort..er..."testing" game, so you can't buy any preban Glocks or even Springfields in MA. Taurus' president, I'd heard, all but told them to go pound sand. But Smith? Smith, evvvvverything that doesn't have a capacity over 10rds is approved right away.
They'll be first to put out a press release of their "exciting new innovation" in the field of "firearms safety" with a microstamping technology. I very much believe that.